Fire-alarm system.



q. B. AMMONS. i FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1915.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915 marrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. AMMONS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TENTH TO EVANDER AMMONS AND ONE-FIFTEENTH 'IO OTIS MCGAFFEY, BOTH OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

FIRE-ALARM SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed January 21, 1915. Serial No. 3,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. AMMONs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarm Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fire alarms.

The invention especially has relation to a fire alarm system by means of which the location of the fire in a house may be indicated and the entire house alarmed, while at the same time a signal may be conveyed to the fire department headquarters which will indicate the locality of the house.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved general wiring system for use in connection with fire alarms where in a' minimum numberof line Wires and lead wires is used, while at the same time the system is wholly efficient and accurate in its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for testing the system within the house while not giving an alarm to the fire department headquarters, such means pro-.

viding a testing of the entire house wiring.

The third object of the invention is to provide a three wire system especially adapted for house use. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a system wherein a number of thermostatic circuit closersv may be used in any room in the house while using only one bell in that room as an alarm.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction, arrangement of wiring, and combination of parts, hereinafter further described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing there is disclosed a diagrammatic representation of while B and B indicate the firm alarm stations, and C the central station. Moreover, within the rectangle A are rectangles a a and a indicating three rooms of the house, the remaindenof the rectangle indicating the central house station.

\Vithin the central station of the house there is provided a battery 10 which is connected to one of the central poles of a double pole double throw switch 11 by wire 12, the remaining central pole of said switch 11 being connected by wire 13 to an indicating instrument, as for example the ammeter 14, which is in turn connected by wire 15 to a switch 16 connected by a Wire 17 to the battery 10. From one end of the double pole switch leads a line wire 18, which passes through the various rooms in the house, and in each of these rooms there is connected to this line wire in multiple one or more thermostatically operated circuit closers 19 of the normally open type.

Through the various rooms of the house leads a carrier wire 20 which is open at its ends and from which lead wires 21 to the remaining poles of the circuit closers 19. In each room in thefhouse there is also provided a bell 22 which is connected by a Wire 23 with the wire 20, and by a wire 24 with a wire 25, which is in turn connected with the wire 12, thus leading to the battery. The wire 20 is connected by a wire 26 to one pole on the opposite end of the switch 11, the pole being that which will be connected with the wire 13 when the switch is in reversed position to that shown in the figure- Each of the wires-21 is connected by a wire 27 with the magnet 28 of an appropriate annunciator, all of the magnets being connected in multiple to a wire 29 leading to the switch 11 as shown. Connected to the wire 20 is a house wire 30, and connected to the switch 11 at the pole opposite that to which the wire 18 is connected is a house wire 31, which house wires lead to the magnet 32 at 'a relay 32 in the fire alarm station B. It will be obvious that other house wires such as are shown at 33 may be connected in multiple to this relay magnet 32 for the purpose of energizingthe same.

It is to be understood that to each of thestations B can thus be connected a number of houses, but it is not deemed necessary to repeat the showing of the house arrangement used in connection with theremainmg houses since these are all, alike, except in the stations is connected by a wire 34 to a line wire 35 which is connected by wire 36 to a battery 37 located at the central or headquarters station. ,This battery 37 is connected by wire 38 with a bell 39. From the bell 39 extends a wire40 to which is connected in multiple the magnets 41 of a suitable annunciator, each of these magnets 41 being connected by a separate wire 12 with the 1 remaining pole of a respective relay.

The normal position of the switch 11 is indicated in the figure as at the left. Now when the switch 11 is in this position let it be supposed that any one of the circuit closers 19 closes then current will flow from the battery 10 through the wire 17 switch 16, wire 15, instrument 14, wire 13, one side of the switch 11, wire 18, circuit closer 19, wire 21, wire 20, all of the wires 23, all of the-wires 2a, wire 25, wire 12, back to the battery 10. At the same time, since the wire 20 is energized current will flow through the wire 30, relay magnet 32, wire 31, remaining sideof the switch 11, and wire 12 back to the battery. Thus all of the bells 22 will be rung and the magnet 32 energized. Furthermore, at the same instant current will also flow through the respective wire 27, respective annunciator magnet 28, and wire 29, back to the battery. This will indicate on the annunciator the room in which the fire is located. Now, by reason of the energization of the magnet 32, the station circuit closer will be operated, whereupon current will fiow from the battery 37 through the wire 36, wire 35, wire 31, local relay contact 32 respective wire 42, respective annunciator magnet 4E1, wire 40, bell 39, and wire 38 back to the battery 36. Thus the alarm will be given at the central or headquarters station and the particular signal station indicated so that the fire apparatus may be directed to the proper signal station.

' battery.

If it is desired to test a house apparatus, it is, of course, not desirable to send in a fire alarm, so that the switch 11 is moved in such 'Wire 26, wire 20, through all the wires 23,

bells 22, Wires 24, wire 25, and wire 12 back tothe battery 10. However, current cannot flow through the relay 32 or the magnets 28,

because the wires 31 and 29 are out of circuit with the battery. The bells-can all thus be tested in a house without sending in a fire alarm signal. I

'It is to be observed that the'switch 16 is provided so when it is desired the battery 10 can be cut out entirely. There has thus been provided a highly eflicient device of the kind described and for the purposes specified.

Having thus described the invention what- I claim as new is 1. In a fire alarm system,the combination with a battery, of a pair of line wires connected thereto, a third wire open at each end, a series of electrically operated signals, each having one pole connected to one of the line wires and its other pole connected to the third wire, a series of thermostatic circuit closers each having one pole connected to one of said line wires and its remaining pole connected to the third wire, and aswitch arranged to connect certain of said signals to the battery when in one position and cause them to constantly ring independently of the closing of the circuit closers, said switch .be-

ing further arranged when in a second position to cause all of said signals to ring upon the closing of one of the thermostatic circuit closers.

2. In a fire alarm system,'the combination nected thereto, a third wire open at each end, a series of electrically operated'signals each having one pole connected to one of the line wires and its other. pole connected to the third wire, a series of thermostatic circuit closers each having one pole connected to one of said line wires and its remaining pole connected to the third wire, and annunciator drops each connected to a respective circuit closer and connected in multiple to said 3. The combination with a series of house signals, of thermostatic circuit closers for controlling the respective signals, a central station signal, operating means for thecentral station signal, a battery, connections bef closers when in one position and to connect all of said house signals in closed circuit when in a second position.

l. In a fire alarm signal system, a scriesof house signals, thermostatically operated oncuit closers for controlling said house signals said thermostatically operated circuit closers normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery, a line wire leading from said battery, a second line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, and a carrier wire, said house signals being connected in multiple to said carrier wire and in multiple to the last mentioned line wire, said circuit closers being connected in multiple to said carrier wire and in multiple to the first mentioned line wire.

5. In a fire alarm system, a series of house signals, thermostatically operated circuit closers for controlling said house signals, said thermostatically operated circuit closers being normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery, a l ne w re leading from said battery, a second line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, a station relay, :1 wire connecting the magnet of said station relay with the second pole of the switch and through said switch to the battery when the switch is in an alarm-position, a carrier wire, and a second wire leading from said relay magnet to the carrier wire.

6. In a fire alarm signal system, a series of house signals, thermostatically operated circuit closers for controlling said house signals, said thermostatically operated circuit closers being normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery, a line wire leading from said battery, a second -line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, a carrier wire, and a wire connecting said carrier wire with a second pole of said switch whereby to connect the carrier wire to the'battery when the'switch is in testing position.

7. In a fire alarm signal system, a series of house signals, thermostatically operated circuit closers for controlling said house signals, said thermostatically operated circuit closers being normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery, a line wire leading from said battery, a second line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, a station relay, a wire connecting the magnet of said station relay with the second pole of the switch and through said switch to the battery when the switch is in an alarm position, tion, and a wire leading from said carrier wire to a third pole of said switch whereby to connect the carrier wire to the battery when the switch -is in testing position.

8. In a fire alarm signal system, a series of house signals, thermostatically operated circuit closers for controlling said house signals, said thermostatically operated circuit closers being normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery, a line wire leading from said battery, a second line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, a series of annunciators for said signals, a wire connecting each. annunciator with a respective circuit closer, and a wire leading from the second mentioned switch pole and having said circuit closers connected in multiple thereto.

9. In a fire alarm signal system, a series of house signals, thermostatically operated circuit closers for controlling said house signals, said thermostatically operated circuit closers being normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery, a line wire leading from said battery, a sec 0nd line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, a station relay, a wire connecting the magnet of said station relay with the second pole of the switch and through said switch to the battery when the switch is in an alrm position, a series of annunc'iators for said signals, a wiring connecting each annunciator with a. respective circuit closer, and a wire leading from the second mentioned switch pole and having said circuit closers connected in multiple thereto.

10. In a fire alarm system, a series of house signals, thermostatically operated circuit closers for controlling said house signals, said thermostatically operated circuit closers being normally open, a battery, a double pole double throw switch having its central poles connected to said battery and arranged to take alarm and test positions, a line wire leading from said battery, a second line wire leading from one pole of said switch and connected to said battery when the switch is in alarm position, a station relay, a wire connecting the magnet of said station relay with the second pole of the switch and through said switch to the battery when the switch is in an alarm position,

a carrier wire to which said house signals and circuit closers are connected in multiple;

and a fourth wire leading from said relay magnet to the carrier Wire to operate all name to this specification in the presence of signals when -a cilrcuit closer is chased and two sn'bsc'ribing Witnesses. r the switch is in 1' arm position, an a Wire connecting a pole of the switch to the car- JOHN AMMONS' 5 rier wireto ring the house eiarms only when Witnusses:

'th'eswitch is in test position. EMILY F. CAMP,

In testimony whereof'I have signed my J NO. IMIRIE. 

